Month: May 2024

“Old as the hills”
or so they say,
the Tremble Tree stands.
Upright and proud,
at least at first glance
Branch arms stretched down
Lacey fingers gently brushing the ground 
Ready to envelope the next
Passerby in need of Her embrace

Unlike the sad story of the tree 
that gave everything,
even life,
Old Tremble Tree never gives,
only takes.
She absorbs the sadness,
the tears,
the trembles,
and fears

Now Tremble has witnessed generations
come and go.
Very different each,
yet much the same.
In my youth
I rested against Her trunk.
Tears streaming,
words lost.
She wrapped me in those wooden arms
and held tight until
I could breathe again.
When the tears poured
and the cries rose
and the trembles took over,
She was there.

Nothing beautiful to
look at really.
No flowers
No fruit
No birds nesting high.
Old Tremble knows her purpose,
knows Her place.
But only those in Her care
know Her value.

She asks no questions
when one pours out her heart,
Or husband speaks of dying wife,
Or young man begs for
relief from his demons.
She listens as stories are told,
very few with moments of joy,
and She bends even closer to
those below
and She takes.

Left at Her feet are the sorrows,
The sadness,
The loss,
and the tears.
Travelers in life come to
trust Her.
They’ve seen Her power
Her strength to hold more than
Her share.
No magic tricks,
No wizardry,
Just roots planted firmly,
Arms outstretched,
and open…
Waiting until
She’s needed.

Once She’s taken and
the travelers are on their way,
again She stands upright,
appearing strong… to most.
Waiting for the next story,
The next heartbreak,
The next uncontrollable tearfall.
They speak of Her strength,
Her ability to withstand much pain
and sorrow,
Her ability to weather all storms,
real or imagined.
But if one watches closely
Over time
You will see.

For Old Tremble Tree,
even with roots long and wide,
is only that…
A tree.
She grew as high as
She could,
Stands as tall as
She can,
and holds as much as
Her body will allow.
And if you’re watching
during the next storm…
As the rain pours down,
She cries for those crying.
As the winds whip 
Through the countryside,
She trembles for those trembling.
And if the burdens are too great,
She breaks for those broken.

Will you be watching?
Will you notice?

Tori Burris Inkley
5/19/24

creeping through the window
he knew that
he didn’t belong
he didn’t deserve
all that he witnessed
knocking over plants of peace
heirlooms passed from
grandmother to
mother to
daughter
these held no meaning for him
so their destruction
came and went
with no remorse
no second thoughts
no haunting emotion

he was above that…
or so he thought

once inside
his step was neither gentle nor
light, neither cautious
nor with empathy
instead he marched
steadfastly
without care
without knowledge 
without sensitivity 
or understanding
destroying that
which wasn’t his
pushing aside that
which didn’t serve him
stomping out that
which others held dear

these had no purpose…
or so he thought

he proclaimed
to no one
yet everyone
that this moment was his
his actions
above all others
his glorious destruction
that would claim the innocence
the safety
the hours and hours of 
thoughtful attention 
others must now right his wrongs
put the pieces back together
reclaim the safety
but never the innocence

his actions were just…
or so he thought

he departed almost
as quickly as he had entered
leaving memories
and beliefs
and items
so precious
they were invisible
to his blind eyes
he no longer crept
nor did he march
instead his gait
was one of unearned pride
for he had accomplished his mission
had upended his target
had done his damage

he had earned respect…
or so he thought

Tori Burris Inkley
5/17/24